Legislature proposes diverting local funds to public defender's office

A proposal in the Montana Legislature would divert funds from counties across Montana and put them into the state Office of the Public Defender, through an amendment attached to HB 2.

Office of Public Defender Director Rhonda Schaffer said the office has had a tough time staying within budget even after trimming $7 million in expenditures.

The state has provided the office a supplemental fund of $7 million.

Hearings are underway in Helena in the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on the Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement and Justice, on the amendment, which would force cities, count...